Question: My wife and I are both have group health insurance plans through our respective employers. I would like to drop my own coverage and be added to hers, however my employer is refusing to allow me to waive coverage unless “I am the primary subscriber, not a dependent, in an employer-sponsored group medical plan or retirement medical plan.” Is this legal? Why would they want to force me to maintain my insurance with them anyway?

Answer: I don’t know if this practice is actually “legal” in your state or not, but it really does’t matter. If there’s a law against it, it’s not being enforced. The insurance companies created this guideline (let’s call it the “Primary Employer Rule”) to even the playing field among employers and avoid disputes like this. This guideline may seem arbitrary, but If all employers follow the standards there will be fewer misunderstandings. In this case, the *Primary Employer Rule *does not benefit your employer because they would save money if you left their health plan for your spouse’s plan, but it all works out in the long run.